Unity in Diversity vs. Disunity in Diversity in the Context of Ethiopia

Barii Ayano, PhD* | October 11, 2013

1.  Introduction

Although successive dictatorial rulers of Ethiopia have tried to hide it from the world, Ethiopia is one of the most heterogeneous countries in the world. This diversity is reflected in the wide variety of languages spoken and values practiced in Ethiopia. Modern Ethiopia is increasingly forced to confront the growing demands and tensions arising from this fount of diversity.

We can divide the political groups in Ethiopia into 3 parts based on the ways they deal with unity and unity in diversity principles.

First, narrow Ethiopianists have utter disregard of the unity in diversity concept in the politics of the Ethiopian Empire. Integrating diversity into the mainstream Ethiopian politics has never been an agenda in the Ethiopian political culture. In other words, Ethiopianism is a clear manifestation of disunity in diversity. There is no embodiment of diversity in Ethiopianism; it’s the exclusive club of Amhara and Amharanized elites. Read more…